Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-08-26
THE INVESTIGATORS REVIEWED.
THE Argonaut. August 9th.

THE Argonaut, August 10Th.
1t does sometimes occur in the Parlia-
ment of England and in the Congress of
the United States that a commission of its
members may be appointed to investigate
facts upon which important legislation may
be predicated. When a deliberative body
chooses from its own number commits.
sion and clothes it with power to investi-
gate matters of importance, it usually Sc
lects it's most responsible members, men,
bers of the highest intelligence and of the
most unquestioned integrity. When for
some indefinable reason, in order to placate
some uneasy sentiment, hush some clamor
of small scandal, and put to silence the
gossip of gossiping tongues, smelling"
committee of small men is dispatched with
authority to nose around and report 1t is
mode of rewarding the small partisans
and of paying some of the liabilities which
leaders incur to their meaner servants.
Per diem, mileage and perquisites,
chance to travel, and an opportunity
to clothe ones self with authority in
orally to put on airs, is compensation
enough to members of smelling" COM
mittee; they find their reward in the in
creased respect they can pay themselves.
The Hon. Mr.. Henley, member of Congress
from California, aided by all the enemies
that infest great enterprises and hinder the
achievement of great undertakings, has
spent his Congressional career in securing
the passage of a law establishing Rail-
way Commission to smell out all the errors,
mistakes and Irregularities that any aided
railway may have committed during its ex-
istence. Mr.. Henley would have desired
to occupy place upon the Commission,
but he was rejected by the President, as
were many others, because of assumed
unfitness arising from prejudice. By one
of those accidents too small for profitable
investigation as to its cause, three very
small specimens of the smelling politician
We're chosen upon the Commission now
holding its session in San Francisco.
Pattison, Anderson and another per-
son came to our city and opened their
investigations touching the construction.
management, and general financial control
OF the Central Pacific Railroad system. In
small room of the company's general Of
ice they went to work. Governor Stanford
and the gentlemen in his employ gave these
persons every facility in their power, and
IN every respect were disposed to aid them
IN their labors. Not till after the Commits
sion had entered upon its work not till by
sneers. lnnuendoes and small insults, sar-
castle remarks and insulting comments.
was it observed that the three persons en-
hnslnpCQ nf
ton lacked dignity, lacked fairness, lacked
the knowledge ofgood breeding. Innuendoes
and small sarcasms degenerated into I'M
mistakable insult and blackguardism, until
Governor Stanford and other gentlemen
called as witnesses were compelled to de-
cline answering questions the asking of
which implied the commission of crime.
questions in which the tones and man
ner of their asking implied an inten-
ton of personal affront, and the sub
stance of which was deliberate and pre-
meditated insult. Mr.. Stowe would have
been justified in personally chastising the
Chairman OF the Commission for his often
slve interrogation, and Governor Stanford
would have been excusable if he had rune
for his colored porter and had him lead ex-
Governor Anderson from the building by
the ear and kick him at It's portal. Cen
tIemen do not conduct themselves as have
these Commissioners. Commissioners do
not conduct investigations as have these
gentlemen, if they are honestly seeking
facts. If they have determined upon re-
port of scandal if their visit to this State
was to find sufficient evidence to Justify
scandalous Misrepresentation to Congress
for political effect to be used against this
railroad company in tie interest of a party
which did not sanction the construc-
ton OF the railroad, and no member of
whose board of management has been
Democrat, they have acted well
their part. Whatever report will be made
by this Commission is robbed of its power
to lnlure the Central Pacific Railroad peo-
pie or prejudice the community respecting
It's management There are old and stale
ISLANDERS raked up by this Commission, and
Whlle no one may pretend that any corpo-
ration beset by political enemies made to
stand and deliver by blackmailers and cor
rupt lobbyists, subject tic the exactions of
political bosses and party rogues, assaulted
on every side by dishonest LAWYERS. and
compelled to run the gantlet Of competi
ton, may not be compelled to use its secret
service funds at times in self-defense, this
community has not received any evidence
that the Central Pacific Railroad Company
has contemplated defrauding the Govern
ment OF what may be Justly and euuitablv
Its honest due, or that Governor Stanford
has been guilty of any personal conduct
that does not entitle him to the respect and
confidence of every honorable man.